The water level in the Three Gorges reservoir reached the 156-meter mark at 9:50 a.m. on Friday, a rise of 20 meters since Sept. 20, when this stage of water storage plan was kicked off. (Xinhua Photo)

The water level in the Three Gorges reservoir reached the 156-meter mark at 9:50 a.m. on Friday, a rise of 20 meters since Sept. 20, when this stage of water storage plan was kicked off.

"The Three Gorges project has realized the second phase water storage plan," announced Li Yong'an, general manager of the China Three Gorges Project Corporation.

The reservoir has stored up some 10.5 billion cubic meters of water. Water discharge from the hydropower project was enough to drive 14 units of 700,000-kw power generators in full capacity.

A technician at the attemper center of the Three Gorges reservoir is monitering the water level, Oct. 27. (Xinhua Photo)

The water level in the reservoir will eventually reach 175 meters in 2009, when the Three Gorges project is finally completed.

Launched in 1993, construction of the gigantic concrete structure of the Three Gorges dam was completed and began to hold water in May. Before it, the reservoir's temporary cofferdams held water at around 135 to 139 meters high.

Editor: Yan